QUESTIONS OF DEFENSE


During September and the beginning of October 1919, Denikin achieved successes on the Southern Front. On October 13 he succeeded in capturing Oryol. In order to eliminate the extremely difficult and dangerous situation for the Republic that had arisen as a result of prolonged reverses on the Southern Front, the Party's Central Committee sent I. V. Stalin to the Revolutionary War Council of the Southern Front. I. V. Stalin worked out a new strategic plan for fighting Denikin, which was approved by Lenin and the Party's Central Committee. The implementation of this plan led to the complete defeat and destruction of Denikin.

The text of this note was cited by K. E. Voroshilov in his report at the solemn jubilee session of February 23, 1933 at the Bolshoi Theater (see "Pravda" No. 63 of March 6, 1933).

---

ON THE REVIEW OF ALLOCATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS 
FOR MILITARY PROPERTY.

TO:
Comrades Avanesov, Sklyansky, Rogov (Moscow Soviet Department), 
Syromolotov and Milyutin¹.

Oct. 15, 1919

The C.C. has entrusted a commission consisting of Lenin, Trotsky, Krestinsky 
and Kamenev to

"prepare a report on the search for all property suitable for military purposes and military supply, with the implementation of severe punishments for non-disclosure."

This commission resolved to create a sub-commission from the aforementioned comrades (from the Supreme Economic Council, Syromolotov or Milyutin or someone from Granota², etc., by agreement with the Presidium of the Supreme Economic Council) and to charge it with drawing up a draft decree by Saturday (for submission to the Council of Defense)².

For the Chairman of the Council of Defense, V. Ulyanov (Lenin).

P.S. On the tasks of the decree, it is possible to consult, if necessary, with me and with Trotsky.

15003

---

TO THE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE.

Oct. 15, 1919

The Supreme Economic Council and all commissariats are charged with immediately reviewing all allocations and assignments for property [and reserves] made to date [in existence], with the aim of selecting from them those allocated to areas already occupied by the enemy or cut off, and then proceeding through the appropriate agency to cancel these allocations and transfer [the reserves] property to bases near the center (for new immediate assignment, first and foremost in the interests of military defense).

For delay — court-martial.

For the Chairman of the Council of Defense, V. Ulyanov (Lenin).

Draft decree to be submitted by decision of the Council. Members of the Council of Defense must submit their conclusions by Saturday.

Oct. 15. Lenin.

15003

For the agenda. NB Copies to all members of the Council of Defense.

---

¹ V. A. Avanesov — Deputy People's Commissar of State Control; M. I. Rogov — Chairman of the Moscow Soviet; F. F. Syromolotov — member of the Presidium of the Supreme Economic Council and member of the collegium of the People's Commissariat of Finance; V. P. Milyutin — Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Economic Council.

² The question "on the review of allocations and assignments for military property issued to areas occupied by the enemy" was discussed in the Council of Defense on October 17, 1919 in a report by Lenin. It was decided "to refer consideration of this question to a commission consisting of Comrades S. D. Markov, A. I. Sviderskoy, A. I. Rykov and E. M. Sklyansky, instructing the commission, if agreement is reached," by Monday, October 20, to present it for Lenin's signature. Following Lenin's report, the Council of Defense discussed a draft decree "on the search for property suitable for military purposes," submitted by V. A. Avanesov. On this question, a decision was adopted analogous to that stated above.

15001 и 15003

---

ON OVERTIME WORK IN ENTERPRISES WORKING 
FOR THE DEFENSE OF THE REPUBLIC¹.

DRAFT REGULATIONS FOR THE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE.

[October 17, 1919]

These regulations, approved in development and as a temporary repeal of certain tariff regulations and enactments of the Labor Code, are caused by the exceptional conditions of the moment being experienced by the country (namely, the moment of the most severe military danger from the invasion of troops hired by international imperialist bourgeoisie) and retain their force pending a change in these conditions.

Chairman of the Council of Defense V. Ulyanov (Lenin).

¹ The draft regulations with Lenin's correction was approved by the Council of Defense on October 17, 1919 (prot. CD No. 75, item 8). A brief report on the regulations adopted by the Council of Defense, drawn up on the decision of the Council of People's Commissars by Rykov, was published over Lenin's signature in "Izvestia of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee" No. 237 of October 23, 1919.

24922

---

LETTER TO G. E. ZINOVYEV.

[December 15, 1919]

Comrade Zinovyev!

I am sending the Politburo resolution.

Two things:

1) Is it possible to order urgently 2 [heavy] auto-sleighs (Kegress auto-sleighs) — heavy and 2 light ones for the Southern Front.¹ Urgently. Answer.

2) Pay special attention to the combustible shales near Yamburg.

It is of critical importance to push with all might.

3) Materials (barbed wire, etc.) do not squander, do not scatter about.

They will be needed. Pay attention.

Greetings. Lenin.

Forgot about the article. If I don't finish it today, don't wait.²

¹ The Politburo resolution of the Central Committee of the VKP(b) apparently concerned questions of the defense of the RSFSR.

² The article "Elections to the Constituent Assembly and the Dictatorship of the Proletariat," intended for publication in the journal "Communist International" (November-December 1919), Lenin completed on December 16, 1919 (Works, vol. XXIV, pp. 631-649).

*Zorít' — to ruin, ravage, devastate (archaic Russian word). [Ed.]

24923

---

LETTER TO G. E. ZINOVYEV.

Dec. 23, 1919

Comrade Zinovyev!

I have received your letter of the 20th.

Regarding Petrograd — arrange everything with Trotsky. It is apparently necessary to preserve and restore all defensive structures (they say they are already stealing wire, etc.) and to devise a system of weekly mobilization (or "alert" or muster) to keep Petrograd in readiness. This must be given most careful thought.

Food is completely bogged down because of transport. REPAIR OF STEAM LOCOMOTIVES AND FREIGHT CARS!!

Regarding the shales, since you have already taken it on, excellent. But I was surprised that you write about the transport of shales. Shales cannot withstand transport (except for gas — shales yield gas no more than coal), it is necessary to electrify on site and set up a distillation plant on site for obtaining petroleum from the shale. That is what they told me here. And I thought that Petrograd, with its resources, could cope with the task of electrification and processing into petroleum.

Greetings! Lenin.

NB. Is it not possible to build blockhouses for the defense of Petrograd? I am sending you and Trotsky a report on this subject.

Why are there not more Kegress vehicles? They say there are over 100 available?